USPSA beginner basics- things to know before you go to your first match.

Wherein a noob with a fancy jersey tells other noobs what little information he has learned over a year and half shooting uspsa.

[@hankthrill]

Hands down the best explanation of USPSA for beginners.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Thanks! Glad I could help.

[@jeremylyson8278]

I agree.

[@ctgblue]

Thanks, did my first USPSA training class this weekend, EXCELLENT guys and learned a lot. 180 rule, 180 rule, did I mention 180 rule (only broke it once showing to range master, overhead 180 brake with empty gun "you'd have been DQ'd".)

[@datamemory]

Thanks a bunch! Finally a video that explains it all.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

No problem. That being said, while this is a good summary of things to know before you show up for your very first time, expect to learn much more from your first match than this video lol. Let them know it’s your first time and ideally they’ll squad you with some experienced shooters who like to teach and they’ll guide you regarding things like stage planning and things to be cautious of.

[@bb98338]

Thank you for the video. This is way more helpful than trying to decipher some of the rule book. Ill be shooting USPSA starting Jan 2021 and this os the best information to get started and ready.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Glad I could help. Best of luck. If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer.

[@gunmandudleytv5075]

Thank you so much sir, I'll be doing my first match later this month here in San Antonio Texas I'm still a bit nervous but the information that you have given is more then helpful

[@01HondaS2kXD]

No problem. Best of luck. Just keep the muzzle downrange and your finger off the trigger and you’ll be fine.

[@butlerbobby]

GREAT VIDEO... so much excellent information.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Thanks! Happy to have helped. Any questions, feel free to ask.

[@sodoodle296]

Thank you for this video. Very helpful!!

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Glad to help!

[@JovialPlanet]

Thanks, Bud. Good and informative video.

[@nithia]

Been shooting for about 2 years now at flat range and just started looking into matches. I think USPSA and the Optics Division are the one for me. I am ok with irons only but with my eye sight I shoot much better with a dot. With every gun I own I can get a group within about the size of my fist up to 25 yards already but I have not had the opportunity to shoot on the move or shoot moving targets yet. (Outside of my few years in airsoft) I think I will give it a try next year once I get a few things settled. I will need to get some mag pouches and decide if I want to use my Glock 17 MOS or my Canik Combat Executive, and perhaps something a little more then an MFT / We The People style paddle holster. However, I do have T1C holsters for my Canik as well but they are AIWB holsters and I am not at the point I would be comfortable shooting in a match from appendix.

[@DonFlintEnt]

I enjoyed this video and this has cleared up a bunch of questions that I had.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Thanks! Glad to have helped!

[@MishtaNinja]

Extremely insightful! Thank you.

[@jeremylyson8278]

Great video, and very helpful!

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Awesome! Glad to help.

[@samuelxie4848]

thank you and I appreciate your lesson for beginner like me

[@cyounglee39]

Nice Job with your presentation, it is great fun!!

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Thanks.

[@nobodyknows9937]

This was helpful, thanks. I'm trying to get set for my first match relatively soon.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Awesome. Hope it goes well. Just be safe and have fun.

[@firuzantahranci9277]

Thank you for this very informative video. Now its time to prepare for my first match in frostproof in 22

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Thanks. Glad to help.

[@zanenail3329]

Great Information. Hope to see you around, going to be trying out a match soon.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Thanks. Funnily enough I’m helping teach the new shooter orientation at a club in southwestern pa tomorrow. Best of luck. Where will your first match be?

[@stayingalive2798]

I'll be doing my first match in a week or so. This was extremely helpful!

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Awesome! Glad I could help. Where is the match?

[@schneir5]

The big difference for me between Production, Carry Optics, and Limited, Open, and Single Stack divisions is that you can start the latter with your hammer back and safety on, but you have to start each stage with you hammer fully decocked, or as far as a manual decocker lowers the hammer. I shot a Shadow 2 in production division last year, and I hated manually lowering the hammer on a live round, and doing the double action pull on the first shot. That's why I decided to get a TS2 and try limited division this year. I love my race holster too. I know that minor power factor won't get as many points but I still went with the 9mm.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

I agree with you on shadow 2s. I’ve watched two guys eat a DQ lowering their hammers.

[@cathiezimmerman3060]

This was so helpful! Thank you.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

No problem. Best of luck.

[@kc_woodsman7504]

Very helpful video, thanks a lot

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Thanks. Best of luck.

[@jamesholmes6900]

This is a great video! I signed up for a match for Production, but I didn't know there is a 10 round limit. I'm going to have to pick another division.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Awesome! Best of luck. Yeah, production is a valid division but for your first couple matches I’d recommend filling the mags up so you just have one less thing to worry about and can just shoot the stage.

[@bogyman0414]

“A real pain for certain people” - I feel you!. 😊

[@kevingoza]

Well done!

[@markjacksonmusic21]

Just joined. Excellent video!

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Thanks! Glad to help. Welcome.

[@markjacksonmusic21]

@@01HondaS2kXD What mods did you make to your Glock 34?

[@01HondaS2kXD]

@@markjacksonmusic21 oh, don’t you know when we say “Glock perfection” we mean just the ejector housing and the spring for the takedown lever lol? I’ve played with all kinds of mods. The only significant ones I recommend are: 1. Some optics ready slide and an optic. For me it’s primary machine and the holding 507 comp. 2. A nicer trigger. This is subjective. Some people like a wall. I love a rolling break. I run an Overwatch trigger with I think just a minus connector and all the light springs. There’s no wall lol. 3. Aggressive stipple with equally ridiculous accelerator cut. I especially like the accelerator cut- I can keep my thumb locked on the gun in front of the takedown lever which is a lot of why it’s so flat especially in my more recent videos. 4. The biggest msg release you can get that you don’t accidentally bump either while shooting or coming from a table start. Anything on that list is pretty much fluff.

[@markjacksonmusic21]

@@01HondaS2kXD Haha damn!!! Those mods cost more than the gun itself lol? I have an Sig 226 scorpion that Im a savage with but not seeing many use 226's etc. Have a Glock 19 as well with recoil comp spring and comp trigger. ITs awesome too. But always looking to purchase another gun especially suited for competition:)

[@01HondaS2kXD]

@@markjacksonmusic21 the only really pricy mod is the slide and optic- I run a gen 3 Glock which obviously was from the time before optics. TBH a new slide wasn’t totally necessary- plenty of companies will just do the optic cut for a decently low price. That being said, while I’m a gearhead and like playing with different parts and things, the difference between my (yes, very, very nice) g34 and a factory one with a dot is minimal. And despite what some people would say, the difference between a Glock and the shadows / tanfos / sigs, etc. is also very minimal and preferential. Playing with gear is fun. Improving yourself as a shooter is what will make the difference.

[@jaesh9306]

A actual helpful video thanks

[@01HondaS2kXD]

No problem.

[@andrewmccall1120]

Great video, my first match is at clariton this month

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Thanks.

[@ironcoon8272]

Very informative, ty

[@01HondaS2kXD]

No problem.

[@Redfg1017]

Very informative video. Thanks a lot

[@01HondaS2kXD]

No problem at all. Glad to help.

[@Redfg1017]

Question for you sir, what kind of mag pouches would you recommend? I really want to get into the competitions but i have no idea what gear im going to be needing. Im thinking of using my cz75 sp01

[@01HondaS2kXD]

@@Redfg1017 there are a number of pouches available and they all do about the same thing. My personal favorite are Double Alpha’s XiP pouches because they’re not super expensive but they’re the most adjustable on the market. If you want the cheapest or you plan to shoot production so you want to cram a bunch of pouches on your belt the Ghost pouches are super cheap and still work pretty good. That’s a solid gun choice by the way. My favorite Carry Optics shooter to watch uses one of those.

[@Redfg1017]

Hello again, i finally just decided to go with Ghost gear, belt, holster and pouches. Ive looked online and havent found any info on how to actually put the belt on. Its the 2 piece belt with velcro. If you have any info on that, would you please shine some light on how to? Thanks again!

[@01HondaS2kXD]

@@Redfg1017 no problem. The inner belt goes through your belt loops and then you just match up the outer belt on the outside with the Velcro. Most belts are fine with just this Velcro attachment but just for added peace of mind they will usually include a “keeper,” that you can wrap around both belts where the outer belt overlaps.

[@richardalano261]

Awesome!

[@westifer566]

Excellent vid! I'm shooting my first match in two days, and was wondering about the gun condition after "load and make ready" command. My gun has a manual safety, so I should chamber a round and engage that safety before holstering, is that correct?

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Awesome! Glad to hear it. For clarification: what gun will you be shooting? Generally speaking if it has a manual safety it has to be on if the hammer(or striker) is back. In those cases, reholstering or setting the gun down on a table with the hammer/striker back, if the safety off it is a DQ. If you’re shooting a DA/SA gun you’ll usually start with the hammer down in production and carry optics, but have the option to choose to start hammer back and safety on in limited and open.

[@jbarres80]

Wish ya could have comp and mag well on carry optic seeing how a lot of people are now carrying with that set up and optic

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Ehh. I pretty much exclusively shoot CO and I’m actually happy that those aren’t allowed because it gives CO enough to differentiate itself from open. When you think of magwells and comps you’re probably thinking of the carry sized magwells and Roland special comps. But once you tell competition shooters magwells and comps are allowed, they’d slap on the biggest and most ridiculous version of both that are available to the point where it’s practically an open blaster.

[@jbarres80]

@@01HondaS2kXD agree maybe make a edc class and get rid of one of the non popular classes

[@01HondaS2kXD]

@@jbarres80 with the best will in the world, while it is popular to say we should cut some divisions, the people who shoot some of the less popular ones are really all about them and would rather they stick around. And while we have divisions like “carry” optics and “production,” they’re really only mildly less gamed-out than any of the other divisions. My advice? Show up. If your gun has a comp and a magwell, either shoot open or take them off and shoot CO. When getting into the sport it’ll be a good while before you’re genuinely competing for wins so you’ll have just as fun regardless of division standings.

[@brettinnj]

Very well done. My question is, how do you practice for this? Are there public ranges that you go to and wait in line, shoot and then go to the back of the line? Or is this something were you need private property to practice. I live in NJ and I can't find a range anywhere that lets you do this.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

So, and I realize this is going to not be an awesome answer but it’s my experience: 99% of my “practice” is either dry fire, or when I go shoot matches. I almost never actually go and do live fire training. Basically every skill in the game aside from recoil mitigation can be trained with zero ammo in the gun at home. Regarding finding a range near you, I don’t really have a good answer aside from check PractiScore to see what matches are close and go shoot the matches. Around this time of year some clubs do a new shooter orientation (I actually just helped with my club’s this morning) and you could probably ask around there.

[@michael7324]

I live in Old Bridge. Check out the range and club. They have compilations here all the time.

[@arkzgun]

i wish you were st my match coming on next weeknd tuesday. zim running my staccato xc in open class as a newbie lol. Not the ideal setup as it setup with x300 and sro including my holster but im going to just have fun. hopefully someone helps me in the process.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

I wouldn’t be too worried about being in open. Just go and have fun. And I guarantee if you let them know it’s your first match someone will be happy to help.

[@joelmillan459]

Great video, however, in front of you is not 0°, but 90°. 0° would be at either of your side and 180 to the office at one.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

So, this is an odd one. The phrase “180” doesn’t appear in the rule book. And it really shouldn’t because 0 is downrange and you can’t point beyond 90 degrees from it. They shouldn’t call it 180. They should call it 90. But yeah, I probably misspoke.

[@wenting4853]

Like your video

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Thanks.

[@den_see]

Very helpful video. Thank you very much!

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Happy to help.

[@MrVinnyboombottz]

Very good video. However after watching several so far, I can't find anyone that tells or shows when and where you load ammo and mags. Thanks.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Well, for starters, I highly recommend loading mags at home. I shoot with people who show up with their mags empty and I’m like “dude, why? That’s just less time you get to walk stages.” But basically anywhere other than the safe area you can load your mags. Most clubs will have benches or something in at least some of the bays. But just make sure you don’t handle any ammo or loaded mags in the safe area and you’ll be good.

[@MrVinnyboombottz]

@@01HondaS2kXD Awesome. So i can have my mags loaded and in my range bag, just away from the safe area, then go and put mags in holster?! Think I got it. Appreciate the clarification.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

@@MrVinnyboombottz pretty close. I will clarify that you are allowed to bring the loaded mags into the safe area if they’re already in your pouches, you’re just not allowed to handle them. So, if they’re already in your pouches, that’s fine- you don’t have to ditch them before going into the safe area. But definitely don’t handle the loaded mags in the safe area.

[@Andrew-bn6su]

First match tomorrow I've watched this multiple times 😂

[@01HondaS2kXD]

AWESOME! Hope I helped. Where/what are you shooting?

[@Andrew-bn6su]

@@01HondaS2kXD shooting at brothers in arms in Mississippi. I'm shooting production minor U

[@bb98338]

What holster are you running in this video?

[@01HondaS2kXD]

At this point it was the Omnivore- just a basic holster to get retention on the light. It’s just what I had laying around to make the video since they had recently changed the rules to allow guns with lights. I don’t think I ever actually shot a match with it due to the fact that if you mess up disengaging the retention you can royally botch your draw lol. I’m currently running a Red Hill Tactical on a BOSS hanger, which is probably the best option for now if you plan to run a light. A less expensive option would be CompTac’s holsters, though they sometimes will flex out if your belt isn’t stiff enough. If you don’t plan to run a light (or if he ever gets around to making lightbearing holsters) GX products makes the best holsters, hands down, no question.

[@bb98338]

Thank you for the reply and information

[@secretninja35]

Expect to think "wow I did pretty decent!" And then scores come out and you have like a 40%

[@MishtaNinja]

So if you go to a match, you’re assigned to a “squad” of other randoms??

[@01HondaS2kXD]

No, you can pick your squad as long as the squad isn’t full while other squads have room.

[@robertbraden461]

Good video. However I am concerned with the mention about courses allowing more than 10 round capacity mags when many states, cities and counties do not allow mag sizes larger than 10 rounds. Why not restrict courses to 10 rounds, or better yet 8 rounds. This will emphasize the vital real life skill of performing frequent reloads.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

So, it’s unfortunate that some places suck. However, rather than making everywhere suck, USPSA allows people who live in places with good laws to have full mag capacities. Falsely limited mag capacity is really not fun. It pretty much becomes a game of “reload basically every time you move your feet,” which is really lame. It’s much more fun to flow through multiple positions while shooting on the move and reload once or maybe twice per stage. But if someone wants to play with restricted mags they can shoot production, l10, single stack, or revolver. Or, if someone lives in one of the places that suck, they don’t really have to worry about it since every division will be limited so it’s an even playing field for them.

[@robertbraden461]

@@01HondaS2kXD They are not “restricted mags” they are the reality of what is coming in many states. And training to do tactical reloads is more realistic than running mags dry. I guess the difference is playing games for trophies vs realistic defense training.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

@@robertbraden461 it was never about “realistic defense training” because that’s not realistically possible where scores and timers are the factor. Watch a high level shooter go through a stage. They’re not using defensive tactics. They’re exercising the max balance between speed and accuracy to achieve the highest score. That’s what this game is about: refining shooting skills. And it is very good at that. Tactical training can be complimented by gun games but it is not a replacement if that is what you are going for. And just because “many states” have stupid laws doesn’t mean we should impose those restrictions on places that are not stupid. And we almost never run our mags completely dry in the hicap divisions. We usually plan to reload somewhere where on both sides of that reload we will have an ample number of extra rounds.

[@aarondrennan5650]

I was going to shoot in my first competition this weekend but now I won’t. Can’t get disqualified if you don’t participate.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Lol don’t be worried about it. It’s very easy to not get DQ’d- just don’t do anything stupid and unsafe. If that’s asking too much, I don’t know what to tell you.

[@aarondrennan5650]

@@01HondaS2kXD I understand, I was just planning on using the matches to sharpen my skills because when I shoot my annual recertification with my sidearm for the state I live in it’s nothing more then shooting a stationary paper target which is not fun.

[@reynoldcindrich4851]

I observed a match where only two out of thirty shooters were shooting plain, off the shelf pistols. (Like most Americans own) Everyone else was in the "spend as much money as humanly possible" division. Not enjoyable.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Lol thanks kinda silly but whatever. They should’ve spent it on ammo.

[@reynoldcindrich4851]

A very small percentage of the 100 million gun owners in this country shoot competitively. Very small.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

@@reynoldcindrich4851 which is a shame, really. It’s a great way to become very proficient, increase your competence/safety, and have a great time.

[@reynoldcindrich4851]

I would agree. However, when you factor in holding down a full-time job (i.e. not getting paid/sponsored to shoot for a living), keeping a roof over your head, having a meal occasionally, taking care of your car, ad nauseam, it really cuts into your practice and/or competition time. It has just gone off the rails since the late seventies, early eighties. That "build a better mousetrap" mentality just drives people away.

[@01HondaS2kXD]

@@reynoldcindrich4851 I mean, I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. Is it the cheapest sport in the world? Hell, no. Can someone with money to burn buy a really really nice gun? Sure. Can they buy skill? Not really. Will the advantage of a nice gun within a division other than open ever be truly insurmountable compared to a shooter with a more budget friendly gun? Not in the slightest. In fact, I’ve won carry optics plenty of times shooting what is basically just a slightly Glock. And the current national champion (who, yes, does practice quite a lot) won limited with a basic factory 9mm Canik. Sure, it takes practice to get good. The same could be said of any sport. Sure, it takes money to buy a basic setup and ammo. But if you are at an even basic level of competence (can generally make decent hits at reasonable distance) you can have a great time in this sport, and go on to get out of it all that you put into it.

[@schneir5]

25:56 not to be a smartass, but Carry Optics isn't a low capacity division 🤔 I think you meant "Production, Single Stack, Limited 10, or Revolver", rather than "Production, Carry Optics or God forbid, Revolver".

[@mimoi1]

thank you for this video!😶very helpful

[@01HondaS2kXD]

Awesome. Glad to be of help.